The Department of Foreign Languages Newsletter GlobalTalk

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SP ECIAL Message From the Chair of the PO INTS O F Department, Dr. Claudia Vance INTEREST: Dear Alumni, Current prosper without her hard (Latin), Dr. Craig Christy  Tournées Film Students, Donors, and work behind the scenes. (German), Dr. Stephanie Festival 2018 Friends, Please be sure to congrat- Coker (French), Mrs. ulate her on this special Linda Cole (American  Study Abroad The department of award when you see her. Sign Language), Dr. Scott Trips Foreign Languages is Infanger (Spanish), Ms. grateful to all of you for Members of our outstand- Rebecca Linam (German), Mr. William Justin INSIDE another wonderful year of ing faculty in the last year continued growth! I include: Dr. Alejandra Morgan (online Spanish), would especially like to Alvarado-Brizuela and Mr. Michael Reutter Spain 3 recognize Mrs. Joy Kelly, (Spanish), Dr. Rob Banks (American Sign Lan- French Major 4 our administrative guage). Special congratu- Teaches assistant, for receiving the lations in 2016-17 go to Arts and Sciences Out- Dr. Coker for being hired Abroad standing Staff Award for to the tenure-track Senator 5 2016-2017. To say that Assistant Professor of French position, to Dr. Taddeo she deserves this award is a huge understatement. Alvarado-Brizuela for Hispanic Her- 5 Joy is not only a cherished earning tenure, and to Dr. itage Month member of our team, but Infanger for winning the also the glue that holds highest teaching honor on German Fest 6 our department together. our campus -the Eleanor We could not continue to (Continued on page 2) Costa Rica 7

French Week 8 Tournées Film Festival 2018 PSI Ceremony 9 The FACE foundation ment of Foreign Lan- films in French (with Gift Bay 11 [French-American Cultur- guages will co-host the English subtitles). Admis- al Exchange] aims to UNA Tournées Film sion is free and open to bring French cinema to Festival with the Depart- the university and local American university ments of Communica- community. For more campuses and has select- tions, English, and Histo- information, please ed the University of North ry. Planning is underway contact Dr. Stephanie to receive a 2017 for the event to be held in Coker ([email protected]). -18 Tournées Film Festi- January-February 2018, val grant. The Depart- and it will include six See page 7 for poster with film titles and dates. P A G E 2 Message From the Chair (cont.)

(Continued from page 1) Thanks to the support hundreds of hours of from Dr. and Mrs. translation and interpreting Gaunder Phi Kappa Phi William Welborn, the services to La Clínica Excellence in Teaching department has been able Cristiana, the Salvation

Award! We are proud of to fund German students Army, Florence City the strides that our faculty and activities, as well as Schools, Shoals Hospital, members continue to make the Oral Proficiency the Lauderdale County in their careers and of the Interview training Courthouse, and many way that they represent workshop for faculty other local groups. our department to the members. campus and the communi- In the way of curricular “A ty. In the area of outreach innovations, in fall 2017 the departmental our faculty members are department graduated its priority is In 2016-17 the department involved with the commu- first graduate students in identifying offered faculty-led study nity and beyond. For the new Secondary Educa- new donors abroad trips to Perú and example, in the spring the tion for teachers of Spanish Spain and advised students department hosted 40 program. After many to benefit studying abroad for a high school students for requests, the department students semester or a year through Spanish Day where they also developed and began studying the Magellan Exchange participated with college offering American Sign abroad, and Program. At present, the students in classes, Language 101 and 102. department has begun lectures, lunch, and the Because of demand, two we are proud recruiting for its 2018 trips Spanish Table. Addition- adjuncts taught ASL in the to say that to Spain, Costa Rica, and ally, the department spring of 2017. The depart- departmental France! The department is sponsored French activi- ment continues to spread scholarships grateful for the generosity ties and invited the the word about the value of continue to of donors who help campus to celebrate Mardi communication, interna- support students studying Gras, listen to speakers, tional education, and grow with and traveling abroad and try typical French cultural diversity at such donor through departmental fare. In the fall, faculty venues as Preview Day, support.“ scholarships. In 2017, the members and students Research Day, Career Day, department awarded 18 participated in Hispanic and SOAR. -Dr. Claudia students a $300 Foreign Heritage Month, German Vance Languages study abroad Fest, and French Week. We invite you to ask scholarship, eight students questions about our a $200 Harriet Hufstedler Faculty members also programs or about study Endowed Scholarship, and fostered interest in abroad opportunities. one outstanding student, languages and cultures Please look at our website Ms. Alexandria Buttgereit, through activities includ- www.una.edu/foreign- received the prestigious ing the French Table, the languages for more 2017 Marcia Ross Memori- German Table, the information and announce- al Endowed Foreign Spanish Table, the ments. Stay in touch via Languages Study Abroad Foreign Languages Club, Facebook (UNA Depart- Scholarship. A depart- and the Hispanic Culture ment of Foreign Lan- mental priority is identify- Organization. The guages), Instagram, and ing new donors to benefit Hispanic Culture Organi- Twitter. We want to hear students studying abroad, zation sponsored events from you! and we are proud to say open to the public such as that departmental scholar- Salsa Night, Día del Niño, Sincerely, ships continue to grow and Lotería Night. Faculty with donor support. and students volunteered Dr. Claudia Polo Vance GLOBALTALK 2017 Study Abroad in Salamanca, Spain P A G E 3

Some of the cultural excursions that students participated in were weekend excursion to Madrid, including a visit to the Museo del Prado and Reina Sofía Museum to see artwork by famous Spanish painters such Sixteen UNA students and two as Diego Velázquez, Francisco UNA professors spent Summer Goya, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Session II at Mester Academy of Dalí, and others. They also Spanish in Salamanca, Spain. visited El Escorial, in the Foreign Language faculty members outskirts of Madrid. The Dr. Alejandra Alvarado-Brizuela group also toured the city of and Dr. Claudia Vance organized Segovia with the 2000-year and led the language and culture- old Roman aqueduct and the based study abroad program. Royal Alcázar (castle) where During the month of July, students the Catholic Kings Ferdinand attended UNA courses taught by and Isabel lived; the medieval Dr. Alvarado-Brizuela and Dr. town of Ávila, with its iconic Vance while also studying Spanish wall surrounding the old city, language and culture at Mester and the convent of the Academy. Carmelite nuns and burial site of Santa Teresa de Jesús. Additionally, they visited Bilbao and From June 29-July 28 students had the opportunity to will have the opportunity to live explore the city and the and study in the culturally rich well-known Guggenheim city of Salamanca, Spain, and Museum. In Salamanca, can earn credits from the they visited the Department of Foreign University of Salamanca, Languages. A limited number of Spain’s oldest university scholarships will be available. (established 1218), the Salamanca For more information, contact In addition to their class meetings Cathedrals, the Art Deco Museum, Dr. Claudia Vance at with their UNA professors, the and other significant cultural and [email protected] or students had a rigorous schedule of historical sites. In the midst of all of Dr. Scott Infanger at immersion language classes the work, students also had [email protected]. Monday through Friday mornings opportunity to relax and enjoy from 9:30 to 1:00, with history, art, themselves on other excursions and culture lectures and excursions including a day at the beach in in the evenings and on weekends. Bilbao, an afternoon of To further enhance the language horseback riding and and culture immersion of the swimming, a tour of a Spanish program, students lived with host guitar factory, and an evening families. of go kart racing.

GLOBALTALK P A G E 4 French Major Teaches English in

with them. I appreciated half of their day learning Corsica! that they were excited to the curriculum in French, learn about the traditions and the other half learning of The United States, but in Corsican. English, also that they helped me to which is their third better understand and feel language, usually starts in apart of their community the 1st or 2nd grade, and as well. then a fourth language, usually Spanish or Italian, During my time there, I starts in the 6th grade. enjoyed being able to Also, for several months explore the region, as out of the year, the city Corsica is filled with would host a film festival My name is Serena beautiful mountains, with all the films in a Spurgeon, and I am beaches, and nature. certain month being from graduating from UNA this However, what gave me a specific country, such as December with a Bachelor the greatest impression Italy or Great Britain. of Arts degree in Foreign was the people who lived Languages with a minor in there. Everyone was From this experience, I International Studies. This welcoming and proud to realized that learning and past year, I moved abroad talk about their island. I pursuing interest in other to Corsica, France to teach noticed that the Corsican cultures does not English as a Second flag would fly often and depreciate you own. While Language with TAPIF that products from the my students were open to (Teaching Assistant region had a great new languages and beliefs, Program in France). I emphasis placed on them they and the people of the worked in elementary and were more readily island maintained a strong schools to help teach kids available than others. I sense of pride for their ages 6-11 ESL and shared even noticed they had heritage and culture. with them some cultural vending machines that Moving into the future, I aspects and traditions of sold Corsica-Cola rather hope to be able to the United States, and in than Coca-Cola which I continue to meet new return, they taught me believe represents their people with differing more about Corsican love for the region. beliefs and backgrounds, culture and traditions. For Nevertheless, I found that as well as being able to example, one day, I made despite their strong portray a positive outlook Adventures Abroad Adventures chocolate chip cookies for nationalism for the island, on my own. the students and faculty of they were open to learning the school, and another about other cultures. day they made for me Something that really Canestrelli, I taught them fascinated me about the about Thanksgiving, and region is that many they explained to me their schools there, including traditions for La Toussaint the ones in which I taught, and I ate Panu di i Morti are bilingual; they spend

GLOBALTALK Department of Foreign Languages Spanish P A G E 5 Alumna Makes History in Race

Foreign Languages alumna, Annette Taddeo, was elected September of 2017 as the first Hispanic Democratic woman member of the Florida Senate from the 40th district. Ms. Taddeo built her own business, LanguageSpeak, which provides translations in more than 240 lan- guages, and has been named one of the top 100 small businesses in Florida and one of the top 500 small businesses in the United States. Following her childhood in Colombia, Annette, at age 17, was sent to live with family friends in Huntsville, Alabama, where, thanks to her determination to perfect her then minimal English, she completed her senior year at Grissom High School. After graduating from UNA with a B.A. in Commercial Spanish in 1992, she joined her family in South -Dade to help them in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, which claimed their Saga Bay home. Her strong work ethic put her through school at UNA. She has been active in the Democratic Party in Miami- Dade County (she became chairwoman of the Miami-Dade Democratic Executive Committee in December 2012), and, in 2014, was the nomi- nee for Lieutenant Governor on the ticket with . She is now married to Dr. Eric Goldstein, a psychologist, and they are the proud parents of 10-year-old Sofia. Read more about Annette’s success story at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annette_Taddeo, https://www.annettetaddeo.com/about-annette/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/annettetaddeo/. Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration September 15 to October 15 The Department of Foreign Languages celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month by inviting the UNA community to join to us for enchiladas, rice, beans, chips, salsa, and cookies. Over 100 people attended the event. September 19th, 2017

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German Conversation Table Now in its fourth year, the German Conversation Table meets every Wednesday on the third floor of Wesleyan Hall to practice German conversation. The group consists of those just beginning to former German majors. From everyday conversation to playing Taboo and Trivial Pursuit in German, participants have the opportunity to practice German in a welcoming environment. German Fest

On October 19th, 2017, more than 70 students, professors, and native German speakers gathered outside Wesleyan Hall to celebrate the German Department's first annual German Fest from 3:00 to 4:30. A variety of German-themed food and drinks were available, such as Mezzo Mix, Sauerkraut, Bratwurst, and potato salad. Several students arrived in German-themed costumes to add to the atmosphere. The German Conversation Table was influential in planning the food and decorations during one of its sessions. Many thanks to Rebecca Linam and

Joy Kelly for their assistance in this successful event! Celebrating all things German things all Celebrating

GLOBALTALK Study Abroad in Costa Rica in May 2018 P A G E 7

torical sites in visit to a coffee plantation and Cartago and San processing plant, to better un- José such as mu- derstand the importance of the seums, market “grano de oro” (the gold grain), places, botanical coffee, to Costa Rica’s history gardens, and a and economy. Although the pro- volcano. We will gram is designed for UNA stu- also travel to the dents, space is available for UNA pacific coast, alumni, friends, and others to where students participate. Approximate pro- will be able to ex- gram cost is $2900. For more perience Costa information, contact Dr. Al- In keeping with the Depart- Rica’s famous ecotourism varado-Brizuela at aalvaradobri- ment’s tradition of offering high through hiking and zip lining in [email protected]. *Dates tentative quality study abroad opportuni- the rainforest, as well as enjoy- and subject to change based on ties, Dr. Alejandra Alvarado- ing some time at the beach. This airline and accommodation pric- Brizuela is leading a program to two-week program will allow ing and availability. Costa Rica during the May In- students to see tersession of 2018. The two- the juxtaposition week program will offer oppor- of rural and ur- tunities for cultural immersion ban areas as they in Costa Rica from May 14 to compare and May 29*. The program will allow contrast daily life students to interact with locals, in remote com- enjoy authentic cuisine, and ex- munities to life in perience daily life as Costa Ri- well-known tour- cans do. The trip will include ist destinations. visits to rural communities, as Our experience well to visiting natural and his- will also include a P A G E 8 High School Students Visit Wesleyan Hall During French Week Eighteen students from Florence High School visited the Department of Foreign

Languages for “French Day at UNA” on November 6, 2017. Escorted by their French

teacher, Jeanie Hughes, these third-year and fourth-year French students spent the day with UNA French faculty member, Dr. Stephanie Coker, to observe French 101 and 201 classes. Additionally they joined the Table française for games and conversation, and met with representatives from UNA Admissions and the College of Arts & Sciences. Lunch was provided by the Department of Foreign Languages.

French at UNA at French Paris Trip 2018

The Department of Foreign Languages and the Department of Art are collaborating to offer a study abroad trip to Paris, France (led by Dr. Stephanie Coker and Mr. Robert Rausch). In June 2018, students will see the French capital through a literal and figurative lens as they take courses in photography and French culture. Students will experience Parisian living and visit historic sites includ- ing Notre Dame, the Louvre, and the Château de Versailles.

GLOBALTALK TEDx Talk by Coddy MacNeill P A G E 9

Since graduating from UNA in to work with at risk students at the living life adventurously has every- 2016, life has been a bit of a University of Nebraska-Lincoln as thing to do with a person’s mindset whirlwind. Following gradua- well as being able to intern with the and very little to do with their actual tion, I was fortunate enough to University of Toronto where I was circumstances. move to Boston, where I in- able to conduct research pertaining terned at Harvard University to the student experience within Coddy MacNeill working with high school stu- the school’s residence halls. Moreo- He/Him/His dents who came to participate in ver, I have been able to pursue my Tutor Coordinator for Student a pre-college program. Following real passion – traveling and trying Support Services several months, in that role, I new things. Since relocating, I have University of Nebraska – Lincoln moved to Nebraska to begin been lucky enough to do some B.A. Foreign Languages, Concentra- working on my Master’s degree incredible things, including: being tion in French, UNA 2016 in Higher Education Admin- able to procure an avenue for https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7VG9NSQsoUI istration. I am now a semester publishing with my first book away from completing my expected to publish next year, being degree and am so grateful for the able to see most of the Midwest, opportunities that have become and being invited to give a TEDx available to me - both profes- Talk which is titled “Living Fear- sionally and personally. Since lessly” and speaks to the idea that relocating to Nebraska, I have adventure can be found anywhere – been able to make connections not just by those who have the with various people, allowing me means to quit their jobs and travel; Phi Sigma Iota Induction Ceremony

The Delta Theta chapter of Phi Sigma Iota at the University of North Alabama welcomed 24 new students who are majoring or minoring in either French, German, or Spanish. The ceremony took place on Monday, April 17, 2017.

Front row: Katelyn Marie Yeager, Alexandra Marie Beaver, Emily Caroline Farris, Jenna Brooke Thigpen, Alexis Victoria Mordecai, Kathryn Kennedy Palmer, Ruby Esmeralda Villalobos, Rachel Ann Morgan, and Huaqing Zhang. Back row: Jairo Isaac Castro, Tan- ner Dakota McGill, Dustin James Day, Brandon Daluz Crowder, Bryan Jimenez, and Casey Leigh Wright. In absentia: Jasmine Chardae Fleming, Ethan Fowler, Dylan Lee Higgins, Ling Li, Mingjia Liu, Louis Gustavo Monterroso, Bethany Christine Pierce, Ra- chel Love Smith, and Ziyuan Wei.

GLOBALTALK UNA Celebrates P A G E 10 National French Week — November 1-7, 2017

Photo taken by Grace Hansen

The UNA French Club and the Dept. of Foreign Languages held the 2nd annual National French Week on campus to celebrate French and Francophone cultures around the world. The festivities included:

 French conversation table,  Paris 2018 trip interest meeting,  UNA French Club meeting and officer elections,  information session on semester/year in France on the Magellan Exchange, and a  French-themed party and pétanque tournament on the lawn.

Students, faculty, and staff in attendance enjoyed games, food, fun, and prizes! Vive la Francophonie !

Congratulations to Dr. Scott Infanger for winning the 2017 Eleanor Gaunder Phi Kappa Phi Excellence in Teaching Award!

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Congratulations to the 2017-2018 Foreign Languages Scholarship Winners!

Harriet R. King Hufstedler Marcia Ross Study Abroad Endowed Scholarship Recipients Endowed Scholarship Recipient  Alexander Gould  Jenna Thigpen  Alexandria Buttgereit  Abigail Worley  Hayden Wilkes Please Donate to the Department of Foreign Languages!

www.una.edu/foreign-languages/give-online.html

What Your Gifts Can Provide

Students Community Engagement  Scholarships  Early College Activities  Study Abroad  Lecture Sponsorships  Conference Travel Faculty  Research Assistance  Conferences

The Department of Foreign Languages—Your Key to the World. Direct comments or questions about this newsletter to Dr. Craig Christy: [email protected]

Friends of the Department We truly appreciate your generous contributions to the UNA ROAR LIONS! ROAR Foundation designated to the Department of Foreign Languages. We couldn’t do it without you!

GLOBALTALK Let us to hear from you! Call us at the Department of Foreign Languages at (256) 765 -4390 or visit our website at www.una.edu/foreign-languages. Our alumni are very important to us, and we continually update our contact information on each of you. If you have recently experienced a change in your life, especially a move or a name change, or if you know of alumni who do not receive our newsletter, please let us know! Please stay tuned for more information on our upcoming alumni survey.

UNA Department of Foreign Languages

Department of Foreign Languages University of North Alabama UNA Box 5074 Florence, AL 35632-0001